Californian city to upgrade water infrastructure with USDA funding

The City of Big Bear Lake in California secured two grants from the US Department of Interior and Agriculture to upgrade its water distribution system.In a press statement, the city's Department of Water (DWP) said it will use a $300,000 grant from the Department of Interior and Agriculture to fund its on-going AMR meter deployment project.

The city kickstarted its Advanced Meter Reading (AMR) project in 2014, to replace existing analog water meters with new radio-read water meters.

The introduction of the AMR meters in the city’s water distribution network has allowed DWP to record significant benefits including accuracy in billing and reductions in water leakages.

DWP reported that it used the new AMR system to identify over 400 customer leaks in the first six months of 2016.

The new meters provide DWP with actual data on how and when consumers use water thereby reducing customer churn.

In total, the city will install 15,580 radio-read water meters.

[quote] The second grant is an additional $300,000, which DWP will use to replace a 4,000-foot section of aging and leak prone main with a PVC pipeline.

DWP will use the two projects to improve customer services by helping consumers reduce their water usage and costs.

The modernisation of the system will ensure the city reduces technical faults and provide its customers with smart water with limited interuptions.

AMR meters deployment

Earlier this week, the Californian utility announced the progress of its AMR meters deployment project.

DWP said it is one year ahead in installing AMR meters.

In a press statement, the city’s water division said it installed 6,000 radio-read water meters since the launch of its AMR meters project in 2014.

The city had projected to replace 15,580 analog meters with advanced models from 2014 through to 2020.

In January alone, DWP used the new system to identify and quickly respond to 49 water leakage incidents.

The AMR meters system is expected to continue helping the company reduce its operational costs incurred in implementing door-to-door meter readings.

The project will ensure the company reduces its carbon footprint by avoiding usage of motor vehicles in carrying out meter readings.

More, importantly, the remote system will ensure the utility is able to charge its customers accurate water bills in winter when meters are completely covered with snows and manual meter readers are not able to collect usage data.